Bhadrakali and the Thieves

Bharata, a saint, was afraid of attachment to his family, because
in a previous life he had turned away from his Lord and devoted
his time to the care of an orphaned deer. As a result of his
actions, in his second life he was incarnated as a deer. So here,
in his third life, he presented himself to the world as an insane,
blind, and deaf idiot to avoid the folly of his past. However, his
mind actually rested solely on the contemplation of the Lord.

A king of thieves wanted to have a child, and in order to do that
successfully, he was to sacrifice a man to the goddess Bhadrakali.
Luckily, the man intended for the sacrifice escaped.

The king ordered the thieves to chase after the escapee, but
they were unable to find him. In their search, they came across
Bharata who was seated in a field, supposedly guarding it. So, finding him
to be dull-witted and without bodily defects, they believed he would
serve their king's purpose.

The thieves bound Bharata and took him to the temple of Candika
(Bhadrakali). They ritually bathed him, clothed, decorated, and
fed him. With the accompaniment of loud music, they sat him down
before an image of the ferocious Bhadrakali.

Bharata's holy Brahmanic brilliance fiercely scorched the goddess.
Here, the goddess noticed Bharata, who had become one with the
sacred essence of All, and was friend to all things. Bhadrakali's
face twisted with rage, for none should harm the pure of heart.

The king of thieves raised his enchanted sword, charmed with
magickal spells, ready to behead Bharata. Bharata merely sat as
he was with his mind resting on his Lord, not an ounce of fear
in him, and seemingly unaware of what was going on around him.

The sheer insolence of the priest-king at what he was about to do
further enraged the Black Goddess. Bhadrakali Herself leapt from
Her image with an earth trembling RRRRROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
She snatched away the sword with which the king had meant to commit
the sacrifice. And with high-pitched and gleeful laughter She
immediately sliced off the heads of her own worshippers.

Her attendants soon joined Her and together They drank the blood-
wine of the newly decapitated king and his thieves. Becoming
intoxicated with the elixir, They sang at the top of Their voices.
They played games with the heads of the slain, kicking them around
in Their play.

Thus, Bhadrakali saved the life of Bharata. Lovers of the sacred
essence and creator of Life should not be harmed, even if they be
devoted to a god of a different name.